British Swimming Announces Euro All Star Duel in the Pool Roster

GLASGOW, Scotland, October 17. Olympic medallist Michael Jamieson and World Championship medallist Fran Halsall will lead the European challenge at the 2013 Duel in the Pool when the continent’s best swimmers go head-to-head with world number one swimming nation the USA.

Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Britain will be French Olympic champions Florent Manaudou, Yannick Agnel and Fabien Gilot for the men, and double Olympic champion Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands for the women as they combine for the 37-strong European Allstars.

But they will face a USA team that also features swimming’s elite such as double Olympic champion Ryan Lochte as well as Olympic champions Kate Ledecky, Conor Dwyer, Shannon Vreeland and Tyler Clary.

Duel in the Pool 2013 will be held at Tollcross International Swimming Centre, home to next year’s Commonwealth Games swimming, on 20-21 December and provides a unique opportunity for fans to see the world’s greatest swimmers battle for supremacy in the pool.

The European Allstars will feature 12 British athletes, including Craig McNally, Robbie Renwick and Hannah Miley from Scotland. And joining them will be Radoslaw Kaweckiof Poland, Jeremy Stravius, Camille Muffat and Fred Bousquet of France, Mireia Belmonte Garcia of Spain, and Lotte Friis and Jeanette Ottesen-Gray of Denmark.

British Swimming Head Coach Bill Furniss believes this year’s European squad is the most competitive he has seen.

“The European Allstars features by far the strongest line up we’ve ever seen in what will be the third of these exciting biennial events,” said Furniss.

“Both teams include a multitude of Olympic and World champions and medallists, and therefore the head-to-head promises to be a dramatic encounter.

“The USA are sending a very strong team so the challenge facing the Europeans will be immense but it will provide a great spectator event at the home of next year’s Commonwealth Games.”

The USA line-up also sees Jessica Hardy, Caitlin Leverenz, Anthony Ervin, Eugene Godsoe and Cullen Jones spearheading the USA challenge as they look to reclaim the title they won two years ago in Atlanta.

“We’ve assembled a nice mix of veteran performers and rising stars on the U.S. roster, and we look forward to racing some of the top swimmers in Europe,” said USA Swimming National Team Director Frank Busch.

“The Duel in the Pool has become a must-watch event for swimming fans around the globe, and USA Swimming is excited to compete against a talented European Allstars in Glasgow.”

The Duel in the Pool is a USA Swimming concept designed to showcase the sport’s most exciting swimmers and will be hosted this year by British Swimming, Glasgow Life on behalf of Glasgow City Council and EventScotland.

Tickets for the event will be released on sale next week and spectators wishing to see the European Allstars take on the USA can register their interest at http://www.swimming.org/britishswimming/swimming/duel-in-the-pool/

Fans will also be able to see the action unfold live on Sky Sports 2. The showdown event will be televised on Friday 20 December and concludes on Saturday 21 December.